Milton teacher gets $25,000 for being 'one of the best' in U.S.

Like every other teacher at Pierce Middle School in Milton, math teacher James Moonan led his students into the gymnasium Wednesday knowing nothing about why they had been assembled. But the reason soon became clear. An official from the Milken Family Foundation had flown in because someone in the school had been identified as one of the nation's top educators and would be receiving $25,000 with no strings attached.

Like every other teacher at Pierce Middle School, math teacher James Moonan led his students into the gymnasium Wednesday knowing nothing about why they had been assembled.

But the reason soon became clear.

An official from the Milken Family Foundation had flown in because someone in the school had been identified as one of the nation's top educators and would be receiving $25,000 with no strings attached. As cheers filled the gym, the official finally offered a name: lifelong Milton resident James Moonan.

“One of the best teachers in the entire country, out of 3 million teachers, is here in your school,” Jane Foley, senior vice president for the Milken Educator Awards, said before naming the winner.

Moonan, a sixth-grade math teacher who came to Pierce as a student before returning to teach, is one of no more than 40 educators nationwide who will receive the Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award this year. The honor, now in its 41st year, is meant to bring public recognition to outstanding teachers and administrators while fostering interest in the teaching profession.

The Milken Family Foundation, which sponsors the award, demands absolute secrecy around the recipients until they are named. Reporters were asked to come to the middle school gym Wednesday morning without being told why and even Moonan's sister, who serves as the elementary science coordinator for the Milton schools, was left in the dark.

Moonan was standing in the rear of the gym when his name was called out. Students erupted in cheers of “Let's go Moonan” as he moved through the crowd of sixth- and seventh-graders to accept the award from Mitchell Chester, the commissioner of Massachusetts public schools.

“I feel like I'm going to wake up and it's a dream,” Moonan later said.

Fellow educators described Moonan as a tireless teacher who obsesses over his lesson plans and works individually with every student. He also coaches varsity baseball at the high school and is known to show up for the after-school performances of his students.

“He finds a way to reach every single student in his class,” said Milton Public Schools Superintendent Mary Gormley.

Officials also say Moonan has gotten results, crediting him with helping raise the test scores of his students. Sixth-graders at the school have gone from scoring 66 percent proficient or higher on the MCAS standardized test to 83 percent in 2013.

While Pierce's teachers were kept in the dark about the purpose of Wednesday's assembly, math teacher Kristen Hallisey said she knew Moonan would be the recipient as soon as they were told they were there to recognize the work of a teacher.

“He's just an exemplary teacher,” said Hallisey, who co-taught with Moonan last year. “He truly enjoys his job, to the extent that it's inspiring to other teachers.”

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